Matt McConnell is an American sports broadcaster and is currently the

play-by-play In Broadcasting of sports events, sports broadcasting, a sports commentator (also known as a sports announcer or sportscaster) provides a real time (media), real-time live commentary of a game or event, traditionally delivered in the present t ...

announcer An announcer is a voice artist who relays information to the audience on a broadcast media programme or live event either on radio or television. Television and other media Some announcers work in television production, radio or filmmaki ...

for

Utah Mammoth The Utah Mammoth are a professional ice hockey team based in Salt Lake City. The Mammoth compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

Announcing career

NHL

McConnell got his start in the NHL as the radio play-by-play announcer for the

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: Businesses *Mighty Audio, an American company known for its product ''Mighty'', a portable audio player *Mighty Animation, an animation studio based in Guadalajara, Mexico Films *''The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy–drama * ''The ...

, a position which he held from 1993-1996. At the end of 1996 he went to the

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

as their radio play-by-play announcer. In 1999, he joined the

Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL sea ...

as the team's first-ever TV play-by-play announcer, a position which he held from 1999–2003, and returned to from 2009-2011. From 2004–2006 he served as the

Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...

TV play-by-play announcer. McConnell has also covered the NHL playoffs for NHL Radio and

Westwood One Westwood One, Inc. is an American radio network owned by Cumulus Media. The company syndicates talk, music, and sports programming. The company takes its name from an earlier network also named Westwood One, a company founded in 1976. The co ...

. in 2011 he was named the play-by-play announcer for the

Arizona Coyotes The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...

. In 2013, he was named "Arizona Sports Broadcaster of the Year" by the National Sports Media Association. In 2020 and 2021, he was named a finalist for the same award. At the conclusion of the 2024 NHL season the Arizona Coyotes suspended operations. In September 2024 McConnell was named the play-by-play announcer for the

, the newest team in the NHL, consisting of the assets of the former Arizona Coyotes.

College sports

McConnell also has served as the lead play-by-play announcer for

CBS College Sports Network CBS Sports Network (a.k.a. CBSSN) is an American digital cable and satellite television network owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global. When it launched in 2002 as the National College Sports Network (later College Sports ...

college hockey broadcasts. He also covered college basketball, college football and college lacrosse.

World Juniors

McConnell served as the play-by-play announcer for NHL Network coverage of the

2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (''2009 WJHC''), was the 33rd edition of the Ice Hockey World Junior Championship and was played in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, between December 26, 2008, and January 5, 2009. Games were held at the O ...

References

Living people American sports announcers Anaheim Ducks announcers Arizona Coyotes announcers Atlanta Thrashers announcers College basketball announcers in the United States College football announcers Minnesota Wild announcers Mt. Lebanon High School alumni National Hockey League broadcasters Pittsburgh Penguins announcers Utah Hockey Club announcers Lacrosse announcers College hockey announcers in the United States 1963 births {{US-icehockey-bio-stub